What are Calipers?
Calipers are tools which are used to measure things. They consist of two legs attached to a central hinge; the legs can be moved closer together or further apart to obtain a measurement. Different calipers are designed for specific purposes, like measuring the insides of objects and the outsides of objects. Many trades require the use of calipers, and these tools are typically readily available from stores which cater to these trades. A very basic set of calipers looks rather like a set of pincers. When the pincers curve inwards, as though they are going to grip something, the calipers are used to measure the outsides of objects, like screws, nuts, wooden planks, and so forth. When the pincers curve outwards, the calipers are designed to measure the insides of things, like tubes. Typically the central hinge has a set of markings which can be read to obtain distance measurements. It is also possible to find calipers mounted to a slide rule, in which case the calipers are moved along the
